Play Along (Windy City, #4)

by Liz Tomforde

I was only thirteen years old when my brother, two years my senior, had to break the news that our mom’s car wrapped around a tree while she was driving home in a storm, and we’d never get to see her again. So yeah…it’s the worst fucking day of the year.

:((((

It was as if I had found my purpose in life—to make those around me happy, so I tend to keep the sad, sappy moments private.

🥺 my happy boy

Those two little words stop me in my tracks. My name. She sounds good saying my name.

🤭

“C’mon, Trav. I’ve told you. You’ve got to be more descriptive than that for him.” Cody studies her for a moment. “I’d call it auburn. It’s a mix of warm red and earthy brown, but she’s also got some copper in there.” “Like a penny?” “Exactly.” This is why I ask Cody these things. The guy gets that I need the details.

is he colorblind?? or like what is happening lol

“So, who is she?” On this day, where everything feels like a sign, I don’t hesitate when I say, “My future wife.”

we love a man who knows what he wants

There’s been only one woman who has held my interest and now that she’s no longer wearing another man’s engagement ring, spending my time with anyone else holds zero appeal.

And if you would’ve told me the reason I’m in Vegas to begin with is because I’m attending my stepsister’s bachelorette party, I would’ve laughed in your face.

AND TO HER EX FIANCE AT THAT CRAZYYY

“Those aren’t red. Those are hot pink.”

so he is colorblind 🥺

“Have I told you lately how much I dislike you?” “Mmm,” he hums. “I should warn you, Ken, I like it when you’re mean. It does something to me.” “So that’s why you haven’t left me alone all these years? I should’ve been nice to you all this time, I guess.” “I probably would’ve proposed a handful of times by now if you were. Nice. Mean. I’ll take you any way I can get you.”

he’s very cute hehe

“California, huh? Did you know that’s my least favorite place?” “And when did you decide that?” “About two minutes ago.”

😭

“I finally married the girl I’ve been obsessed with for years.” Obsessed is a weird word too. I’m obsessed with how soft this pillow is. My new shoes are so cute. Isaiah is so cute too. I’ll never tell him that.

“Does this mean the honeymoon phase is over already?” “I hate you!” “See you at home, wifey!”

🤭

“Just think of this as one big game.” His tone is low and deep when he leans down to my ear and whispers, “C’mon wife. Play along.”

AAAAAAAAAA

“I know I don’t have to remind you of Sunday’s date,” Kai says. “Max’s birthday.” “Well, that too.”

stopppp max was born on the day she died :(((

I’ll be all right. Are both Miller and Max home with you? They’re here. Good. Don’t drive anywhere. You know I won’t. Love you.

stoppppp ☹️ i wanna hug him so bad

His smile grows. “Did you get me both a metal and a rubber ring so I could wear something during my games?”

oh she’s so in love

“I was just going to get your name tattooed there since I couldn’t wear a ring while I was playing, but this will do.”

oh he’s soooo gonna do that later

As I’m walking out, I laugh to myself about the tattoo thing before realizing, I’m not entirely sure he was joking.

he’s not babes

“Isaiah, are you colorblind?” His smile is sheepish as he rocks back on his heels. “Yeah.”

stop he’s so cute 🥺🥺🥺

“C’mon, wife.” I lead her back into the dining room. “Time to play along.”

🤭🤸🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️

Mallory continues, still staring at Kennedy’s left hand. “Quite a downgrade if you ask me.” “I didn’t ask you,” my wife shoots back.

OOP PERIOD KENNEDY

“Best eight months of my life.” Connor turns and places a kiss on Mallory’s lips. “More like the best three years of your life,” she corrects. I freeze my movements. Kennedy goes still.

I BEG YOUR PARDON ???????

She’s looking right at me, eyes pleading for permission. Permission for what though, I’m not entirely sure. “He did need someone who would kiss him in public and we all know that was never going to be me.”

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO ITTTTT

Her small hand reaches up to cradle my cheek, her index finger grazing over the small birthmark by my right eye before she leans down and does the most shocking thing she’s ever done. She presses her lips to mine.

AAAAAAAAAAAA

“Chili’s.” My voice holds no inflection as I slide into the booth across from Isaiah. “The real nice place you had in mind is Chili’s.”

HEY GIRL THAT TRIPLE DIPPER BE GOING CRAZY

“Eyes are up here, wifey.” “I’m a doctor, Rhodes. Aced anatomy, in fact. I know where your eyes are located. I just don’t care right now.”

real af

“Promise. Think of this as part of our game.” Going first, I let my hands find her outer thighs, fingers working to pull her closer. “Play along.”

SCREAMING

At first, I think he’s giving me shit for making sure I’ve got a good view of him in those goddamn baseball pants, but then his new walk-up song begins to play over the stadium’s speakers, and I know exactly what that scheming smile is all about. Mariah Carey’s “Obsessed” is blaring from all angles around me.

STFUUUUUUUUUU

Our wedding song is on full blast as Isaiah makes his way to the plate, but before he gets there, he turns back in my direction. With the entire stadium singing the song I walked down the aisle to, Isaiah extends his bat, points at me, and winks. He fucking winks. It’s the moment reality hits me… Miller was right. I think I might have a crush on my husband.

🤭🤭🤭🤭

I need her to taste just a sample of the years of torture I’ve endured, wanting a woman I couldn’t have. The difference is she can have me. She can have fucking all of me.

“I was planning to pretend as if they don’t exist, so eat your pasta like a good girl and stop scanning my apartment.”

if he calls her a good girl one more time imma lose it 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

What color is it? White?” I swallow down the nerves. “Yellow.”

SCREAMING RN AAAAAAAAAAAA

“Turn it off,” he whispers. “Turn off your brain and do what feels good. It’s all just a game, right? You and me, it’s all a game, so play along.”

There are voices. Lots of voices. Three, maybe four people. I think one of them is Travis. And the last one has a slight Boston accent.

MY BABY RIO ???????

“He’s just…” Dean hesitates. “I just don’t like the guy. He and his brother are…”

something is up here like is he jealous orrrr ?? what’s his deal

A boom of thunder vibrates our hotel room, and if I hadn’t already been lying awake, the sound would’ve jolted me out of sleep.

oh noooo isaiah :(

“Kai, if this is what’s going to make you happy, I will learn to be okay with it.” A soft smile ticks up on the corner of his lips as he nods. “Yeah. This is what will make me happy.” “Then do it. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”

IS HE GONNA RETIRE ??????

“This guy is not only my coach, but he’s also my sounding board, he’s a father figure to me and my brother, and most importantly, he’s my friend. They don’t make them much better than Emmett Montgomery, and I’ll be forever grateful that Chicago drafted my brother because that’s the whole reason I’m here in a place where I got to meet him and his daughter. And lucky for Monty, he’s stuck with me forever because he’s not only my coach, he’s also about to become my father-in-law.”

FUCK WE CRYING NOW I LOVE MONTYYYY 😭😭😭

I’m happy for him. Happy for Max and Miller too. But I have played baseball with my brother for almost thirty years, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to keep playing without him.

STOP 😩😩😭😭🥺🥺🥺🥺

“There is one last person I still need to address.”

FUCK DUDEEE

“As much as I love this game, what I’ll miss most is sharing the field with you.

MALAKAI RHODES PLEASEEEEEE SPARE ME 😭😭😭😭🧎🏽‍♀️🧎🏽‍♀️🧎🏽‍♀️

“Dean, your stepbrother, is what happened. Well, kind of. It’s not entirely his fault, but it partially is.”

i figured…

Isaiah was this sweet, loyal kid, but I couldn’t name one single girl that my brother dated who didn’t fuck around behind his back with your stepbrother.

fuckkkkkk :/

Then immediately after that, at the age he’s learning about relationships, every girl he ever had feelings for left him too.

and she’s boutta leave him too :///

“What’s wrong with you? What the hell are you so pissed off about?”

girl…

“That’s fine if you don’t want to talk,” I continue, undoing his shirt until it falls open. “I don’t need to use words to show you that I want you.”

GO AHEAD KENNYYYYY

So, I do something I didn’t know I would ever do in front of him—I begin to drop to my knees.

AAAAAAAA

“Don’t fucking apologize.” He watches me with rapt attention as he peels off his suit jacket and drapes it on the bathroom floor between us. “Now you can get on your knees in front of me.” Oh.

OH ??????? AAAAAAA

“I’ll teach you how to be good, baby, but I’m sure as fuck not going to teach you for anyone else. I’m going to teach you how to be good for me.” Fuck.

fuck is right girl

“Go in, show off that big brain of yours, and be yourself. There’s no way they’re not going to love you the way that I l—” He stops himself.

AAAAAAAAAA THE WAY MY JAW FKSKCSJKFDJFK